SAPS XI put the boot into Saints

This was the SAPS team’s third outing since registering with the old crocks league in Kimberley

Picture: Xinhua/Han Yan

Rookie club in the Sol Plaatje Masters Football League NC SAPS FC won 2-1 against the more experienced Saints FC in a friendly encounter that was contested at the St Johns Street grounds in Colville on Sunday.

This was the SAPS team’s third outing since registering with the old crocks league in Kimberley.

The victory by the SAPS XI confirms that they mean business, with the team showing glimpses of their mettle when they managed to win a game played in Finsch last week in a local tournament hosted there last Sunday. SAPS won their first match of the tournament 2-1 against Van Wyk FC and then narrowly lost 6-5 on penalties against a Finsch XI.

SAPS FC coach Molatudi Rantsoetse said they came to the Colville grounds knowing that Saints would not be a walkover, and therefore they must give their best to secure a win against Saints.

The losing Saints coach on the day Jonas Baadjies said the game his side played against SAPS, though not encouraging, was not a major concern to the team. He made assurances that they will definitely improve on that result in the coming season. He emphasised that he was personally not overly concerned about their loss in this friendly to the SAPS XI.

The match blossomed in the second stanza, after a goalless first period, when Saints scored in the 52nd minute through former Colville United player Ronnie Gewers (1-0).

SAPS scored their reply in the 65th minute through Kenny Mtombo (1-1) before Hendrik Motshabi silenced the Saints spectators when he nailed their final goal for the 2-1 result.

Saints, who last played in the Rehanna Moshoeshoe Cup where they lost 1-0 against Greenpoint Young Pirates, could blame this loss on an extended period of inactivity.